The Big Stories From the European Transfer Window

There were no big layouts by the major European teams in this month-long transfer market, with Bayern Munich the only club perhaps missing out. The German champions were known to be in need of a centre back, but their pursuit of Bologna’s Amadou Diawara seems to have failed.

Chinese teams were the big spenders, with Brazilian international Ramires ending his unhappy spell at Chelsea with a reported $35 million move to Jiangsu Suning, and Roma’s Ivory Coast forward leaving for Hebei China Fortune for $20 million.

In Spain Real Madrid, currently appealing against a transfer ban, sold Cheryshev to Valencia, but otherwise La Liga was fairly quiet, with a few small deals happening.

The top clubs in England were also quiet - neither Manchester United nor Manchester City bought anyone in, although City stole yesterday’s headlines with the announcement that Pep Guardiola is to manage the club from the end of the season. There are rumours of Pellegrini moving to Chelsea and Mourinho taking over at United.

Chelsea have taken the once-promising Pato on loan from Corinthians. The big spenders in England were at the bottom of the Premier League table - Newcastle spent over $76 million in January, Norwich City over $50 million. Will it be enough to keep them in the division. Sunderland saw eight first team players leave, seven of whom went on loan, illustrating the woeful recruitment policy of the last four managers. Emmanuel Adebayor continued his English adventure moving to Crystal Palace.

In Serie A, there was one other big Chinese move - Colombia international Guarin joining Shanghai Greenland Shenhua for $14 million from Internazionale.